80 WARRANTY OF 



uncommon thing: the exceptions must be sought in 

 those studs where trotters are kept only as match 

 horses and for short distances. Trotters are of all 

 horses the most tried the most overtried. Many 

 indifferent horsemen would have no hesitation at 

 driving the trotter, but they would as soon attempt 

 to fly as to mount the racer. 



Neither extreme is good. Horses should not be too 

 much worn when sold, and they certainly should not be 

 got up to such a pitch of sleekness and delicacy that 

 attacks of inflammation or other disease would be 

 attended with more than ordinary danger to the animal. 

 Dealers of course would prefer keeping their horses in a 

 more rugged and vigorous condition, but hitherto buyers 

 have looked at horses as butchers do at oxen, and 

 valued them in proportion to the amount of fat they 

 carry. Of course this is an error ; but improvement is 

 beginning, for the dealers in live meat do certainly 

 look for many things now besides fat, and they are 

 right. 



Perhaps this place is as good as any other to remark 

 upon the absurdity of buying an animal that had once 

 in his life performed a particular feat, instead of 

 seeking to possess horses of capacity for general useful- 

 ness. As well accept for man-servant a decrepit old 

 man who once in his life was most active and had done 

 the state some service. Choose a horse, as you would a 

 man, for his ability and willingness ; then husband his 





